Refrigerating apparatus



REFRI GERAT NG APPARATUS July 19, 1932 ,UNITED FRANKLIN G. SLAGEL, OF BFFALO, NEW YORK, SSIGNOR, BY MESNE .SSIGNMET TO FBIGIDAlIBE GOBPORATION, A CQRPORATION F DELAWARE nnrnrennn'rrn'e arrann'rus This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus and particularly to refrigerating elements or cooling units.

It is one of theobjects of the inventionto provide a refri erating element which is adapted for ecient refrigeration either when immersed in brine or when disposed in air.

` Another object of the invention is to provide a relatively narrowrefrigerating .element in which a large amount of heat exchange surface is provided within a relatively small volume.

A further object of the invention is to pr0- vide a cooling unit having a relativel large mass which 1s effective as a therma holdover.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a cooling unit of Hexible ap lication, that is, one whichmay be readily en ar ed or reduced to meet changing or varied re rigerating requirements.

: unit attache .5 Still another object of the invention is to provide a refrigerating element which has f a relatively great refrigerating capacity but which requires a relatively small amount of refrigerant.-

`Further obj'ects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference-being had to the accompanying drawing wherein .,a' preferred form -of embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawing: I: Fig. 1 is a vertical section-through -my improved refrigerating element,the' section.

being taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the refrigeratin element;

ig. 3 is a plan view; Fig. 4 is a section on th line 4-4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a view partly in section and partly ent of the cooling unit showin an additional or supplemental thereto'l and v Figs. 6 and 7 are views of closure devices. Referring to thetdrawing, 1 designates a container for brine 2, shown as relatively narrow to represent a narrow body of brine, by way of exemplifying conined 1 spaces withinto the surrounding medium .quirements I provide means for attac iii`*which the refrigerating elementds in- ,semle tended tobe used. The refrigerating element disposed within the container 1 includes a header 3 which forms a reservoir for liquid refrigerant circulated through conduits 5 and 6 by any suitable refri eratmg machine (not shown).- Dependingl rom the header. and substantially within the width of the header is one or more refrigerant circulatin elemerits each consisting of a plurality o ver tical conduits 7 communicating with the header b means of openings 7a and 7 b and connected in parallel circuit relation by means of one or more conduits 8. The vertical conduits are spaced from each other and are joined togther throughout their len h by vertical r1 s or ns 9 and are provi ed with additional vertical ins 10 projecting All of the parts ofthe element above described are preferably made of thick cast metal such as iron 'or,aluminum in order to provide an evaporator havingl large mass, the specific heat of which acts as a hold-over during periods when the rerigerating machine 1s not operating. This'is of importance when the refri rating element is used in air, as shown in ig. 2, instead of in brine` as shown in Fig. 1.

In order thatstandard evaporatorsmay be used to meet a variety of refrigeratig'ref additional circulating elements, "each 0% which may be like the ones just described, including vertical conduits 7- connected by cross conduits 8 and by webs 9 and having Theupper conduit 8 is rovided ange 12 fins 10. with a connection' 11 having a which may be attached toa sultable opening in the header by means of bolts 13.v 4All of the additional or detachableV elementsmay be secured to the permanently attached elei ments by bolts 14. When the additional elements are not used theopenings in the header are closed by means of closure plates .l18 secured in place by the bolts 13.

Other detachable cooling elements like'the one described may be connected to the end of the header by means of a pipe 20 bolted to the ilange 12 by means of bolts 13, the pipe i being threaded in an opening 21 in the end of the header. This opening may also be` .closed by a plug 22 when no ldetachable elenient is connected to thi'sportionof the evap-` orator. A

It vvill thus be seen that I have provided a very compact evaporator having vboth large mass to provide a thermal' hod-over and large surface to provide efficient -heat transfer. The entire evaporator is contained substantially Within the Width of the header, thus providing an effective refrigerating element which can be disposed in any space which Will receive the header. .The evaporator may also be used to supply a larger refrigerating demand by the connection of the additional cooling elements.

While the form of embodiment 'of the pres.- ent invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, itis to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming Within the scope of the claims which follow. What is claimed is as follows:

1. In refrigerating apparatus a refrigerating element comprising a header forming areservoir for refrigerant, and a unit, formtachably connected to the header.

2. In refrigerating apparatus,- a refrigering a pluality of circulating conduits, dej n f ating element comprising a header forming ating, elementV comprising an elongated header forming a reservoir for refrigerant, and one ormore circulating elements depending from and disposed Within the vWidth of 40.

the header, the circulating .elements including a plurality'of vertical 'conduits connected "in parallel circuit relation, each conduit having a plurality of vertical fins.

4. In refrigerating apparatus, a re ating element comprising `an elongated header forming a reservoir for refrigerant,

`-and oneor .more circulating elements depending from and disposeduwithing the. Width of the header, the circulating elements including a plurality of spaced vertical conduits connected in parallel circuit relation, each conduit having-a plurality ofV vertical fins.

5. In refrigerating apparatus, a refrigerating element comprising an elongated header forminga reservoir for refrigerant,

and one or more circulating elements detachably. connected to` the header and depending from and disposed within the width of the header, the circulating elementsfin' ating element comprising a header forming of vertical conduits connected in parallel circuit relation, each conduit having a plurality of vertical fins, andmeans for detachably connecting said circulating elements to the header.

7 In refrigerating apparatus a cast metal refrigerating element comprising a header yforming a reservoir for refrigerant and a ating element having both large hold-over capacity and large heat exchange area compri'sing in combination, a thick cast metal header forming a reservoir for refrigerant, one or more thick cast metal refrigerant circulating conduits of large mass detachably connected to the header, and a plurality of thickv vertical .fins cast integral with each conduit.

10. In refrigerating. apparatus, a thick lcast metal refrigerating element comprising an elongated header forming a reservoir for refrigerant, and oneor more'thick cast metal circulating elements detachably connected to the header and dependingv from and disposed Within the Width ofthe header, the

circulating elements including a plurality of spaced. vertical conduits joinedtogeth'er by vertical fins.

In testimony whereof, I ax my signature.4

FRANKLIN SLAGEL.

a reservoir, one o r more circulating elementseach of said elements including a plurality'. 

